While the Cat’s Away, the Mouse will Play…….

Cat & Mouse

Raglan’s deserted the Mindsheet camp for a week for a much overdue break and so it’s a case of while the cat’s away, the mice will play.  Don’t get me wrong, we’re not all sitting here with our feet up. On the contrary, it’s a chance for me, Yvette, to play the creative card and write the latest blog for your enjoyment (I hope).

But a free reign to write what you want can be a kiss of death to all but the most creative.  I don’t profess to be an innovation expert like Raglan (I’m on steep learning curve having spent many years in financial services marketing), so I’ve been looking for a bit of inspiration.

Where to start?  I did the first thing many of us do, I went on Google.  Looked to see what’s hot on innovation, searched for ideas.  And then it hit me in the face.  It was obvious.  I’m struggling for ideas so why not put together a little piece on how to be creative in the first place.

I’m sure you already know there is a wealth of information out there on the subject, so I’ve done some digging in order to compile a short guide to creativity.  My intention was to pick the best ideas from a selection of thinkers but I came across one blog called Gaping Void by Hugh Macleod that really inspired me so I make no apologies in quoting directly from it.

Here, in my opinion, are some of the best bits:

• Ignore everybody
  The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you

• The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to change the world
  The two are not the same thing

• Put the hours in
  Doing anything worthwhile takes forever. 90% of what separates successful people and failed people is time, effort and stamina

• If your business plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail
  Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain

• Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten
  As you get older they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you, “I’d like my crayons back, please.”

• Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity
  Nor can you bully a subordinate into becoming a genius

• Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb
  You may never reach the summit; for that you will be forgiven. But if you don’t make at least one serious attempt to get above the snow-line, years later you will find yourself lying on your deathbed, and all you will feel is emptiness

• The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props
  Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece on the back of a deli menu would not surprise me. Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece with a silver Cartier fountain pen on an antique writing table in an airy SoHo loft would SERIOUSLY surprise me

• Don’t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually
  Inspiration precedes the desire to create, not the other way around

• The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it
  If you have the creative urge, it isn’t going to go away. But sometimes it takes a while before you accept the fact

Well I hope that gave you a little bit of inspiration for the day.  Must get back to the mountain of jobs Raglan has given me now……..